Aero Spacelines built the first Super Guppy for NASA in 1962, modifying a Boeing 377 Stratocruiser. NASA used the airplane to
transport large spacecraft components for such programs as Gemini,
Apollo and Skylab. less

Aero Spacelines built the first Super Guppy for NASA in 1962, modifying a Boeing 377 Stratocruiser. NASA used the airplane to
transport large spacecraft components for such programs as Gemini,
Apollo and ... more

Photo: JOSHUA TRUJILLO

Aero Spacelines built the first Super Guppy for NASA in 1962,... Photo-3143348.45424 - Times Union

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The nose of NASA's Super Guppy aircraft can open more than 200 degrees.

The nose of NASA's Super Guppy aircraft can open more than 200 degrees.

Photo: LINDSEY WASSON

The nose of NASA's Super Guppy aircraft can open more than 200... Photo-3142565.45424 - Times Union

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The Super Guppy's cargo compartment is 25 feet by 25 feet, and 111 feet long,
with 39,000 cubic feet of usable volume and a maximum payload of more
than 26 tons. Here's more on Saturday's delivery, including more pictures. less

The Super Guppy's cargo compartment is 25 feet by 25 feet, and 111 feet long, with 39,000 cubic feet of usable volume and a maximum payload of more than 26 tons. Here's more on Saturday's delivery, ... more

The Super Guppy followed up on the Pregnant Guppy, which Aero Spacelines also built from a Boeing 377.

The Super Guppy followed up on the Pregnant Guppy, which Aero Spacelines also built from a Boeing 377.

Photo: NASA Marshall Space Flight Center

The Super Guppy followed up on the Pregnant Guppy, which Aero... Photo-3152140.45424 - Times Union

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Taboola Gallery Frame Item-85307.45424 - Times Union

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NASA used the Pregnant Guppy to transport the S-IV (second) stage of the Saturn I rocket from manufacturing facilities on the West coast to testing
and launch sites in the Southeast. The tail section came off just behind the wings to access the hold. less

NASA used the Pregnant Guppy to transport the S-IV (second) stage of the Saturn I rocket from manufacturing facilities on the West coast to testing
and launch sites in the Southeast. The tail section came off ... more

Photo: NASA Marshall Space Flight Center

NASA used the Pregnant Guppy to transport the S-IV (second) stage... Photo-3152139.45424 - Times Union

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The Aero Spacelines Mini Guppy was the last version, and also based on the Boeing 377. You can visit it at the Tillamook (Ore.) Air Museum.

The Aero Spacelines Mini Guppy was the last version, and also based on the Boeing 377. You can visit it at the Tillamook (Ore.) Air Museum.

Photo: Eduard Marmet/Wikimedia Commons

The Aero Spacelines Mini Guppy was the last version, and also based... Photo-3152154.45424 - Times Union

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Here's the cargo hold of the Mini Guppy.

Here's the cargo hold of the Mini Guppy.

Photo: Jelson25/Wikimedia Commons

Here's the cargo hold of the Mini Guppy. Photo-3152153.45424 - Times Union

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Boeing's Dreamlifter is a modified 747-400 built to move sections of the new 787 Dreamliner between production sites.

Boeing's Dreamlifter is a modified 747-400 built to move sections of the new 787 Dreamliner between production sites.

Photo: Aubrey Cohen, Seattlepi.com

Boeing's Dreamlifter is a modified 747-400 built to move... Photo-773202.45424 - Times Union

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Taboola Gallery Frame Item-85307.45424 - Times Union

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Its tail swings open to access the cargo bay.

Its tail swings open to access the cargo bay.

Photo: Joshua Trujillo, Seattlepi.com

Its tail swings open to access the cargo bay. Photo-723449.45424 - Times Union

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The Dreamlifter has 65,000 cubic feet of cargo space.

The Dreamlifter has 65,000 cubic feet of cargo space.

The Dreamlifter has 65,000 cubic feet of cargo space. Photo-738617.45424 - Times Union

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The largest transport plane in the world remains the Antonov 225, shown here on June 17, 2001 at the Paris Air Show.

The largest transport plane in the world remains the Antonov 225, shown here on June 17, 2001 at the Paris Air Show.

Photo: REMY DE LA MAUVINIERE, Associated Press

The largest transport plane in the world remains the Antonov 225,... Photo-3152094.45424 - Times Union

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The Antonov 225, built in the 1980s, can carry a payload of more than
551,000 pounds. Its cargo volume capacity, however, is about 46,000
cubic feet, which is less than the Dreamlifter and Beluga. Here, the
An-225 lands at Boeing Field in Seattle on Aug. 31, 2007 to pick up four
777 engines for a delivery. less

The Antonov 225, built in the 1980s, can carry a payload of more than
551,000 pounds. Its cargo volume capacity, however, is about 46,000
cubic feet, which is less than the Dreamlifter and Beluga. Here, the ... more

Photo: Joshua Trujillo, Seattle Post-Intelligencer

The Antonov 225, built in the 1980s, can carry a payload of more... Photo-3152049.45424 - Times Union

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Here's a shot of the Boeing 777 engines about to be loaded onto the Antonov 225 at Boeing Field in Seattle on Aug. 31, 2007.

Here's a shot of the Boeing 777 engines about to be loaded onto the Antonov 225 at Boeing Field in Seattle on Aug. 31, 2007.

Photo: Joshua Trujillo, Seattle Post-Intelligencer

Here's a shot of the Boeing 777 engines about to be loaded... Photo-3152048.45424 - Times Union

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Here, the Antonov 225 carries the Soviet Buran space shuttle on June 17, 1989 at the Paris Air Show.

Here, the Antonov 225 carries the Soviet Buran space shuttle on June 17, 1989 at the Paris Air Show.

The Soviet shuttle and its means of transport bore a striking similarity to the U.S. version. Here, the Space Shuttle prototype Enterprise rises from NASA's Boeing 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft on Oct. 1, 1977 to begin a powerless glide flight back to NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center, in California. less

The Soviet shuttle and its means of transport bore a striking similarity to the U.S. version. Here, the Space Shuttle prototype Enterprise rises from NASA's Boeing 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft on Oct. 1, 1977 ... more

Photo: NASA Dryden Flight Research Center

The Soviet shuttle and its means of transport bore a striking... Photo-933605.45424 - Times Union

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More recently, NASA cut a big hole in a 747 to create its flying Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA), shown here in the Dryden Aircraft Operations Facility on April 9, 2009.

More recently, NASA cut a big hole in a 747 to create its flying Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA), shown here in the Dryden Aircraft Operations Facility on April 9, 2009.

Photo: Tom Tschida/NASA

More recently, NASA cut a big hole in a 747 to create its flying... Photo-3152081.45424 - Times Union

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Here's a close-up view of SOFIA's telescope bay, opened to reveal a 98-inch telescope.

Here's a close-up view of SOFIA's telescope bay, opened to reveal a 98-inch telescope.

Journalists tour the cabin of the Stratospheric Observatory for... Photo-766443.45424 - Times Union

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A NASA B-52 aircraft flies with the X-43A hypersonic research vehicle and its Pegasus booster rocket mounted beneath its wing April 28, 2001 above the Pacific Missile Test Range off the coast of California.

A NASA B-52 aircraft flies with the X-43A hypersonic research vehicle and its Pegasus booster rocket mounted beneath its wing April 28, 2001 above the Pacific Missile Test Range off the coast of California.

Scaled Composites took the idea to a new level with the custom White Knight mothership it built to carry SpaceShipOne to 50,000 feet. The rocket then launched away to become the first private craft to carry people into space in 2004. less

Scaled Composites took the idea to a new level with the custom White Knight mothership it built to carry SpaceShipOne to 50,000 feet. The rocket then launched away to become the first private craft to carry ... more

Photo: Getty Images

Scaled Composites took the idea to a new level with the custom... Photo-1534143.45424 - Times Union

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Scaled Composites has since teamed up with Virgin Galactic on SpaceShipTwo, shown here attached to new mothership WhiteKnightTwo. Virgin Galactic plans to use the system to carry paying passengers into space.

Scaled Composites has since teamed up with Virgin Galactic on SpaceShipTwo, shown here attached to new mothership WhiteKnightTwo. Virgin Galactic plans to use the system to carry paying passengers into space.

Scaled Composites has since teamed up with Virgin Galactic on... Photo-755146.45424 - Times Union

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The Virgin Galactic SpaceShipTwo VSS Enterprise is released from the mothership WhiteKnightTwo VMS Eve over the Mojave, Calif., area in 2010.

The Virgin Galactic SpaceShipTwo VSS Enterprise is released from the mothership WhiteKnightTwo VMS Eve over the Mojave, Calif., area in 2010.

The Virgin Galactic SpaceShipTwo VSS Enterprise is released from... Photo-755117.45424 - Times Union

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Bombardier's 415 "Superscooper" firefighting tanker loads 1,621 gallons in 12 seconds while skimming at high speed over water. Here, a Superscooper drops water over the Brea Fire on November 15, 2008 near Yorba Linda, Calif. less

Bombardier's 415 "Superscooper" firefighting tanker loads 1,621 gallons in 12 seconds while skimming at high speed over water. Here, a Superscooper drops water over the Brea Fire on November 15, 2008 near Yorba ... more

Similarly, the Erickson Aircrane helitanker can refill its 2,650-gallon tank using its snorkel in as little as as 45 seconds. This one is dropping fire retardant on July 14, 2004 near Three Points, east of Gorman, Calif. less

Similarly, the Erickson Aircrane helitanker can refill its 2,650-gallon tank using its snorkel in as little as as 45 seconds. This one is dropping fire retardant on July 14, 2004 near Three Points, east of ... more